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February 2015
In This Issue
Featured Article
As meeting professionals, you are juggling a million things at once; tracking down continuing education credits for your CMP certification or recertification shouldn’t be one of them! CIC’s new online system, combined with the recent launch of the CMP Preferred Provider Program, helps you work toward your professional development goals and track them in real time – without tracking down proof of registration or saving documents. If you attend any education that is a part of this program and have registered for the event with the same email address as your CIC online account, your attendance automatically gets uploaded to your CMP online portal account – no tracking needed. CMP Preferred Providers are organizations that have formally registered with the Convention Industry Council (CIC) and are committed to providing education that aligns with one of the 10 domains included in the CMP International Standards (CMP-IS).Click here for current education listings: https://myaccount.conventionindustry.org/EventCalendar.aspx?selmenid=men2 Please note, you can still attend and report other educational activities that fit the criteria for CE credits even if the host organization is not a Preferred Provider. If your organization offers education, please click here to learn more about becoming a Preferred Provider: http://www.conventionindustry.org/CMP/Preferred_Provider_Program.aspx |
 With CIC's Hall of Leaders firmly established as the premier recognition program for lifetime achievement and leadership in the meetings, conventions, exhibitions, hospitality and travel industry, CIC has created the Pacesetter Awards to celebrate emerging leaders and industry supporters. Rather than spanning a lifetime of achievements, the Pacesetter Awards recognize people whose recent accomplishments chart a course for where the industry is today and where it is headed tomorrow. There are three focus areas of the Pacesetter Awards:
The Pacesetter Awards recognize those whose recent accomplishments speak highly of where the industry is today and chart a course for where it is headed. Measuring individual excellence, the Pacesetter Award has three focus areas Young Professionals, Sustainability and Social Responsibility, and Leadership and Innovation. Do you know forward thinkers who have made a difference, shaped the industry into what it is today and whose body of achievement has influenced, inspired and improved the industry? If so, consider nominating that person for recognition. Nomination guidelines and forms for Pacesetter Awards can be found on our website. This year, all nominations and forms must be submitted online. Please note that all nominations must be received by 5 p.m. EST on Monday, March 2, 2015. All essays and supplemental material must be received by 5 p.m. EST on Sunday, March 15, 2015. |
Chair's Corner
 Dear Fellow CMPs,The last month has just flown by, and it is hard to believe that I already have the opportunity and pleasure to reach out to all of you once again. On the day that the last CMP Today was distributed, I was boarding a flight to Amsterdam. This is only significant because I was absolutely thrilled to see that my "inbox" started receiving messages from CMPs in response to the question I had posed: "Why are you proud to be a CMP?" For those of you who travel extensively, you will be able to relate to my "usual" action prior to take off for international locations: one last email check before turning off my mobile’s roaming function. At the time I was departing, the messages from CMPs started to come in, and I honestly didn’t want to turn off the phone. It was a torturous wait until I could get Wi-Fi again to read your messages. I would love to share a few of the responses and hope that more of you will answer the same question after reading this month’s article: I have to give credit to the very first response, which was from Kevin McNally, CMP. Hello from Chicago. As you read this, I am pleased to share that I have been a CMP for 20 plus years. During that time, I retired after 30 years with Starwood, two years later returning to the craft that I love working with TAJ Hotel Resorts & Palaces and now with Hilton Hotels. And through my journey I continue to maintain my CMP with pride. In my connections with customers ... I always recognize those who have our CMP designation. We are indeed a community of professionals who are proud of what we do, how we deliver and the success of making a difference! GET YOUR CMP ON! Mary Anne Whittle, CMP, from California provided such a descriptive portrayal of her CMP pride that I really want to share her thoughts with you: I am proud because the CMP designation is a badge of achievement and lends to my credibility as a professional inside and outside the company I work for. It was not easy to achieve, and it took dedication and commitment to work toward certification. Not to mention the wonderful people I have met along the journey who mentor, encourage and endlessly answered questions. So totally worth it! And I proudly share the thoughts of Kim Bladen, CMP, from New Jersey. Her comments are especially meaningful to me as we met while preparing to take the CMP many "recertifications" ago: I am proud to be a CMP because I worked hard to obtain the certification. While not everyone knows what those initials mean, many of my peers are aware that becoming a CMP involves passing a rigorous exam and having several years of experience within the meeting industry. More important, the CMP designation helps to elevate the meeting profession. The program illustrates that effective meeting management requires a certain degree of expertise and professionalism. Having (and maintaining) the CMP designation indicates that I am a professional who is dedicated to the field of meetings management. And meetings hold a very important role in our society! It is with great pleasure that I share the thoughts and accolades about the CMP designation with all of you. For those who took time to write, I thank you for allowing me to share your comments with our CMP community. For those of you who answered the question in your mind but didn’t have a chance to write yet, I know that we all share a bond that is strong, powerful and filled with pride. If you wish to answer the question of "Why are you proud to be a CMP?" I will include a few more answers in my article next month. I share your thoughts and am so proud to be in a position to be able to highlight the thoughts from some of my fellow CMPs. Do remember to keep reading about the CMP Program in CMP Today and on the CIC website and make sure that your profile is up to date! If you are up for recertification in 2015, please complete the application now so that you can check this task off your "to do" list. And last, but definitely not least, I look forward to seeing and meeting many of you at CMP breakfasts, industry events and especially at Conclave 2015. With warm regards, Joanne Joanne H. Joham, CMP, CMM 2015 Chair, CMP Governance Commission Regional Director North America – ICCA jjoham@optonline.net |
CMP Events
 The 2015 CMP Conclave will be held at the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino, the premier meeting and convention space in Reno-Tahoe. Located in the heart of Reno-Tahoe, minutes from McCarran International Airport, the GSR offers a variety of options to keep guests and business travelers busy or relaxed without leaving the resort. GSR is northern Nevada's largest resort destination with 2,000 guest rooms and has recently completed a $50 million renovation updating all guest rooms and public areas and is working to make available the most current technology with its goal to have something for everyone. Exclusive Conclave Rates Standard room: $89 Our mid-tower rooms feature contemporary and stylish designs. Renovated in 2013 featuring flat-screenHD TVs, earth tone furnishings, bright colors, lavish bedding and updated bathrooms with shower/tub combo, our GSR hotel rooms are a level of elegance not found in other Reno hotel rooms. Grand room: $109 This 420-square-foot room is the perfect blend of luxury and style, adorned with custom leather and suede furniture accented in warm, rich colors. Featuring 42-inch flatscreen HD televisions, butler's pantry with coffee maker, refrigerator and microwave; and spa-inspired floor to ceiling marble bathrooms. This well-appointed suite is your vacation home away from home, so luxurious you may never want to leave. To book online, please click here. To book rooms by phone, please call group reservations at 800-648-5080 (toll-free) or 775-789-2129 (local phone). For more information on the hotel, please visit our website. Remember to book your room by Monday, August 24, 2015 to receive the group rate. Grand Sierra Resort 2500 E. Second Street Reno, NV 89595 Local: 775-789-2000 Toll-Free: 800-501-2651 |
 CIC will be participating in the Hosted Buyers Programme for the first time at IMEX Frankfurt 2015! This is a great opportunity to attend the event and be a part of the group that is specifically for CMPs. The IMEX Hosted Buyer Programme is designed for meetings and events organizers just like you, bringing together your peers and your suppliers for three days of unrivaled innovation and inspiration, outstanding business and valuable networking. As a hosted buyer, you can benefit from:
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Global Perspective
 Nineteen years ago, I was inspired to begin doing humanitarian work in Africa by an episode of Oprah. In this particular highlighted episode, she hinted at her vision to bring leadership training to talented and gifted young African women who needed mentoring and education to empower them to a better life. As a result of that episode, I felt challenged to explore what was possible if people work together to bring change and sustainable growth to those who need the doors of opportunity opened. I started on a journey that would take me around the world and that would ultimately lead me to commit my adult life to working in Africa. In March of 2012, I was leading a team of medical workers in Western Kenya. We were hosting a free medical clinic and had announced it to the entire village. Our team began preparing for the opening of the clinic so we could see patients, and we arrived at the location to find that more than 500 people had been in line for hours waiting to be seen by the volunteer doctors and nurses. We worked diligently to see as many as we could, and over the next three days we saw most of them. On the final day, I had created the idea to have a "Celebration of Life Dinner" to honor the hard work of our teams and local volunteers. We were planning on 125 people to join us for dinner. Being the resourceful CMP that I endeavor to be, I rented chairs and tables from a local business. I hired a catering company to bring the veggies and ugali (an African dish of maize flour). I hired a local butcher to provide meat for the festivities. Everything was set. On the day of the celebration, our medical teams were wrapping up their work and I was busy preparing for the luncheon meeting. I  remember arriving early that morning to find a grown cow tied to one of the posts near our clinic. A colleague of mine and I went over and noticed how calm and pet-like this cow was. My colleague lovingly named the cow "Federicko" (what can I say she loves animals). I went about my business of decorating the outdoor area, ensuring the rented tent was up and appropriately supported. I checked in with my key players to ensure everything was on time and expectations were met before the final day of clinic began. It wasn’t until I looked up to see Federicko being led down a hill that I realized that our dinner meat was going to be fresh. It was going to be very fresh. Federicko was to be the guest of honor. I was not sure how I felt about eating something that we had just named. We did not realize when we arrived that Federicko was our lunch. The clinic wrapped up and the dinner went off without a hitch. That is, except for the fact that I did not eat. I could not bring myself to eat the cow that I had befriended earlier. Federicko taught me a valuable lesson as a meeting planner that day. There are times in life when we need to realize it is not healthy to hold things close. It takes wisdom to know when to keep things at arms length and maintain emotional and professional distance. Darren Tipton, CMP, is the founder and CEO of Project Humanity and an avid supporter of the meetings industry. |
CMP Program News
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2015 marks the 30th Anniversary of the CMP! Over the years, the certification has continued to evolve and grow with the industry, and we are proud of where the certification has come and of our large global CMP community. This year, CIC will be hosting events and promotions around this special celebration with the culmination of the celebration to be held at the CMP Conclave, September 26-28 in Reno, Nevada. Please stay tuned for more information and to learn how you can be a part of this amazing celebration!
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APEX - Standards and Best Practices
 Sustainable Planning – Don’ts and Dos – Look to the Standards on Event-Specific Criteria Don’t create a new sustainability plan or policy for each event! Reinventing the wheel is a waste of time and effort. This is not required by the standards. Policies should be as standard and consistent as possible but you will need to address event-specific criteria. Do prepare an event-specific memo that addresses all event-specific criteria to supplement and clarify your existing sustainable event policies. Use the standards to guide you, and they can be accessed at www.conventionindustry.org/StandardsPractices/APEXASTM/GettingAPEXASTM.aspx. If you read the standards, you’ll know what is expected, and you will be able prepare written event-specific objectives and criteria to meet the requirements. CIC making it easier: If you don’t have the time or expertise to create your own event-specific memo to meet the standards, use the SMPP® standardized approach found at www.SustainableMeetingPlanner.com. Use the CIC50 discount code to register. If you have a question on the Don’ts and Dos according to the standards, send it through the Contact Us form at www.SustainableMeetingPlanner.com. |
Industry News
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"To help meeting planners source locations for their events, Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI) have partnered to create a new tool powered by DMAI's empowerMINT.com, called "Destination Finder."
Destination Finder is a web portal that planners can use to quickly research and compare U.S. and Canadian destinations, and to easily connect with contacts at destination marketing organizations. Destination Finder – which is available free of charge – includes information on destinations and CVBs, including details on meeting facilities, CVB services, news, promotions, and maps of hotels and venues. Meeting planners also can use the tool to submit questions directly to CVB sales professionals serving a particular market, and send specific meeting requests and RFPs to one or multiple destinations." Click here for the full article. |
CMPs in the News
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One hundred sixty-three association executives recently received their Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential from the CAE Commission of ASAE, joining more than 4,000 industry leaders worldwide. The Winter 2015 class of CAEs will be honored during the 2015 ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition in Detroit, Mich., August 8-11.
The CAE Program serves to elevate professional standards, enhance individual performance, and designate those who have acquired and have demonstrated knowledge essential to the practice of association management. The CAE Program is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). Congratulations to the CMPs who earned their CAE: Rachel M. Brooke, CMP, CAE President Maxim Management Delray Beach, FL Cheryl L. Gendron, CMP, CAE Meeting Manager National Fenestration Rating Council Greenbelt, MD Jean Jernigan, IOM, CMP, CAE VP, External Affairs & Community Outreach Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants Troy, MI Mary C. Kidd, CMP, CAE Director of Partner Services Catapult Meetings Inc Richmond, VA Diane E. Kovats, CMP, CAE Executive Director International Society for Computational Biology Fairfax, VA Kimberly A. Nicholl-Keane, CMP, CAE Principal Meeting Minds West Chester, PA Lauren B. Nilssen, CMM, CMP, CAE Meetings and Communications Manager Institute of Makers of Explosives Washington, D.C. Jan P. Stieger, CMP, CAE Executive Director DBA International Sacramento, CA Dominique M. Stumpf, CMP, CAE Chief Operating Officer National Pest Management Association Fairfax, VA Tina Marie Wehmeir, CMP, CAE Chief Executive Officer AMC Institute Alexandria, VA Karen E. Wesloh, CMP, MBA, CAE Partner & Senior Account Executive The Harrington Company Minneapolis, MN Click here to read the entire press release and see how you can apply for your CAE. |
 The Event Service Professionals Association awarded Monica Simons, CMP, of the Intelligence & National Security Alliance (INSA), with its 2014 Meeting Professional of the Year award. This award was designed to recognize the hard-working meeting professional who exhibits personal and professional characteristics that create an environment that focuses on team work, as well as shows support for the event services profession. ESPA also awarded Tiffany Hoambrecker, CMP, of Visit Denver, with its 2014 Member of the Year Award.  This award recipient is an ESPA Member who has been outstanding in his or her constant enthusiasm and support of both ESPA and the Convention Services Industry. This person is selected annually by the ESPA Board of Directors. |
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Collaborate Magazine recently published its list of "40 Under 40," its selection of an accomplished group of young meeting professionals. From the magazine: "The power planners, suppliers, speakers and industry insiders on this list are whiz kids and wunderkinds. They’re in hospitalities, yes, but they fuse their affable skill sets into other industries such as biomedical, hotels, auto, energy and finance. Collaborate shares the stories of how they rose to the top at such young ages.
Carrie Abernathy, CMP, CEM, CSEP 31, Founder and CEO, CAbernathy Consulting San Diego "I am a matchmaker in a sense," says Abernathy. "I put together events that bring together planners and vendors to network and do good for the community." Liz Aughey, CMP 29, Vice President, BlackRock New York "Since new event technologies are entering the market at such a rapid pace, my role is to make sure we’re at the forefront," says Aughey. Nia L. Benjamin, CMP, MTA 32, Event Planner, ExxonMobil Global Services Company Houston Benjamin began her career at Booz Allen Hamilton consulting with federal agencies like Department of Homeland Security, NSA and Department of State and eventually became a planner for various federal government entities. Christie Blake, CMP 38, Owner and Meeting Planner, Blake & Co. Events Portland, Oregon She calls herself a "get-it-doner and a make-it-happener." Jody Brandes, CMP 37, Senior Meeting Partner, Genentech San Francisco Although her major in college was zoology, Brandes now plans and executes sales meetings, advisory board meetings and conventions in the United States and Europe. Mindy Gunn, CMP, CMM 39, Vice President, Meeting and Event Planning Manager, Wells Fargo Bank Scottsdale, Arizona This June will mark Gunn’s 20th anniversary with Wells Fargo, where she started as a bank teller her freshman year of college. Maggie Johnston, CMP 35, Director of Meetings, Assurex Global Columbus, Ohio Johnston started out on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., as a project coordinator for the National Sheriffs’ Association and is now an event planner for a network of independent insurance brokers. Joe Marcy, CMP 29, Sales Manager, The Westin Long Beach, Interstate Hotels & Resorts Manhattan Beach, California Marcy was introduced to the hospitality industry when he volunteered for U.S. Travel Association’s International Pow Wow. He handles the upper half of the United States for his company. Latoya Shanell McCreary, CMP 32, Events Manager, Insurance Auto Auctions Woodridge, Illinois "I always had a passion for event management, but it was difficult for me to get into the events industry without solid company experience," so she created her own event company. Luke Williamson, CMP 38, Assistant Manager of Corporate Events, Nintendo of America Seattle Armed with 17 years of experience in the event business, Williamson has spent the last 10 of those planning up to 150 events per year for gaming giant Nintendo. To read more about these CMPs, please click their names for links to their stories. To see the entire list, click here. |
CMP on the Road
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PharmaForum 2015 March 22-25, 2015 National Harbor, MD Tuesday, March 24 | 1:45-2:45 p.m. | Session | "Prove You Know How to Manage Healthcare Meetings – A Focus on the CMP and CMP-HC" (Gayle Dahlman, Certification Director) More information DMAI Destinations Showcase March 25, 2014 Washington, D.C. More information |
On The Move
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Make an awesome career move? Let us help you celebrate! Send the details of your latest career triumph to cmptoday@conventionindustry.org. And while you're at it, be sure to log into www.conventionindustry.org and update your official CMP record. |
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